There are lots of times when you'll want to test a
receptacle for power --sometimes to make sure that there's
really power present, but more often to make sure that
there's not! Sure, you may have cut off power at the main
service panel. But are you sure you've flipped the right
breaker or removed the correct fuse for the circuit you're
working on? Even after you think the power's off, it's a
good idea to pull out your circuit tester one more time
and double-check.
Turn off
power at the main service panel. Place one probe of the
tester in each slot of the receptacle. The tester
shouldn't glow. If it does glow, you've turned off the
wrong circuit at the service panel; go back and turn off
the correct circuit. Test both ends of a duplex
receptacle. Remember that this is only a preliminary test;
you also need to perform Step 2.
Remove the
receptacle's cover plate and mounting screws. Gently pull
out the receptacle without touching any of the wires or
terminal screws. Touch one tester probe to a brass
terminal and one to a silver terminal. The tester
shouldn't glow. If it does, once again, you haven't shut
off power to the right circuit. Cut power to the correct
circuit at the service panel, and retest both sets of
terminals.
Turn off
power at the main service panel. Place one probe of the
tester in each slot of the receptacle. The tester
shouldn't glow. If it does glow, you've turned off the
wrong circuit at the service panel; go back and turn off
the correct circuit. Test both ends of a duplex
receptacle. Remember that this is only a preliminary test;
you also need to perform Step 2.
Remove the
receptacle's cover plate and mounting screws. Gently pull
out the receptacle without touching any of the wires or
terminal screws. Touch one tester probe to a brass
terminal and one to a silver terminal. The tester
shouldn't glow. If it does, once again, you haven't shut
off power to the right circuit. Cut power to the correct
circuit at the service panel, and retest both sets of
terminals.